Tag : PR

What started as a simple St.Patrick’s Day promotion at a Vancouver restaurant turned into international outrage. When Railtown Cafe posted a picture of an overflowing Guinness, the picture went viral which made beer drinkers in Ireland and beyond cringe. According to Guinness the proper pour of the beer requires a 45 degree angle, filled three-quarters full then left for 90 seconds while the foam settles.

Canada:

Canada is making strides to create the first spaceport near Canso, Nova Scotia. In a joint venture with several US firms, Maritime Launch Services will create a launchpad to deliver commercial satellites in orbit. The total cost will be $304 million but will be one small step for man, eh?

US:

Trumps revised travel ban, or travel ban 2.0, was blocked from federal judges in Hawaii and Maryland. The decision stems from previous statements made by Trump and his feelings towards Muslims which prompted the courts to regard the bill as discriminatory rather than an issue of national security. Anti-Muslim remarks made by Trump during his campaign trail in Nashville, Tennessee were quoted to support their case.

International:

Fresh off the news of Brexit, Scotland is pushing towards a second referendum on independence from the United Kingdom. The first minister blames the UK governments lack of compromise over Brexit. The vote will be held between Autumn 2018 and Spring 2019 after the smoke settles from the European Union separation.

Tech:

Imagine wearing glasses that can adjust in seconds from near-sighted to far-sighted. A breakthrough from researchers at the University of Utah produced a prototype for liquid lensed glasses that can adjust to any eye prescription. By inputting your prescription into an app and desired focal point it can signal the glasses to form accordingly through piezoelectric pistons and flexible lenses. The downside is, however, they are ugly beyond words.

Science:

Finally, the debate of the “five-second rule” can be laid to rest. Germ expert Anthony Hilton from Ashton University said eating food on the floor momentarily isn’t without risks but is safe overall. While he stresses to stay away from visible dirt, otherwise food is unlikely to attract harmful bacteria in seconds. Don’t hesitate to quote this when you pick up that slice of pizza that fell on the floor as your spouse frowns upon you.

Entertainment:

The godfather of rock and roll Chuck Berry passed away at the age of 90. The American guitarist was said to have influenced the likes of Elvis, The Beatles and Rolling Stones. He was famous for classic songs such as “Johnny B. Goode” and “Roll Over Beethoven”.

Fun:

Not only is it the first day of spring but it’s national proposal day!

Here’s the weekly news debrief, with things to know from around the world for March 6th

Vancouver:

The prime minister came to address the illicit drug crisis affecting Vancouver on Thursday. Justin Trudeau met with first responders and healthcare workers to discuss the drug overdose crisis that claimed the lives of 922 people last year in B.C. He announced $10 million of federal funds for the province to help deal with the epidemic.

Canada:

Bus operators in Winnipeg, Manitoba are feeling concerned for their safety after a passenger threatened to stab a driver while holding an axe and brass knuckles last week. The suspect was taken into custody and will face charges. The incident came soon after a bus driver was slain in a stabbing on Feb. 14 outside the University of Manitoba. Now, bus drivers are calling for heightened security measures to enforce a no tolerance policy towards violence.

US:

A Georgia judge sentenced a couple to lengthy prison terms for their involvement of a confederate flag display at an African American child’s birthday party. The hate group arrived with shotguns threatening the lives of the family in 2015. The no tolerance judge gave the man, Jose Torres, 13 years and Kayla Norton six years for uttering “terroristic threats”.

International:

Ever wanted to become a nanny to a giant, fluffy panda? Well, if you move to China that can be a reality. The China Conservation and Research Centre for Giant Pandas offers full time employment for people to feed, clean and look after pandas around-the-clock. The job only pays 2,000 yuan (USD $290) per month, so don’t expect to get rich but on the other hand, you get to play with pandas!

Tech:

Engineers in New York created a folded piece of paper. Doesn’t sound very interesting, right? The folded paper is actually a paper-based battery, a big step forward in the field of papertronics. The battery can be printed on a page and is powered through living bacteria. Paper electronics are simple to make and inexpensive, the battery is powered with bacteria, which can be found in most places such a dirty puddle.

Science:

A team of biomedical engineers created a backpack that attaches to a dragonfly that allows them to control their flight patterns. The project known as DragonflEye can transmit signals to neurons using light, the signal tells the dragonfly where to fly on command. Now we have good reason not to trust the bugs.

Entertainment:

Disney’s upcoming live action remake Beauty and the Beast will feature a gay character for the first time in the studios history. LeFou is the goofy sidekick to the primary villain Gaston who will come to terms with his sexuality. Of course, the news doesn’t come without controversy. Twitter had polarizing views regarding the inclusion with some believing they are forcing narratives on the viewers. Can’t people just enjoy a movie for what it is?

Nobody saw it coming. An estimated 111.3 million viewers watched with pain, elation and fear as Tom Brady, quarterbacked his way back from a 21-3 game to win the 2017 Super Bowl in what is arguably the best comeback game of all time. Falcon fans sat aghast, as a sea of white and blue bled onto the field following the winning touch down.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. What does the Super Bowl have to do with launching a successful career in PR and Digital Marketing? Well, not much, really, unless of course you pay attention to the game’s all-star Tom Brady. Here are five tips you can take from the five time Super Bowl champ to successfully tackle your PR and Digital Marketing career.

Be focused under pressure

PR and Digital marketing can be a highly demanding career, fraught with grand expectations, tight deadlines and interceptions that change the game plan. When pressure seems insurmountable it’s important to keep calm, take note of the situation and figure out your best play. I’ve worked on many campaigns that have ideated well and passed client approval, but then didn’t stick with the media or public when they went into play. However, after regrouping with your team, sometimes the smallest tweaks can change stir the outcome to a positive result.

Utilize your team

Brady is the quarterback, but he didn’t make the winning touchdown. That’s because his job is to know his team’s strengths and weaknesses and find the best play that will utilize each person’s position. The same goes in PR and Digital marketing. Whether you’re at a boutique PR and influencer marketing agency like Brix or a larger conglomerate, it’s important to communicate with your team and build a culture of trust. Get to understand your colleagues interests, strengths and what motivates them. Regardless of your position or rank, building strong relationships and avoiding work in silos, will help everyone advance.

Put on your game face

Going into halftime the Patriots were down 18 points and Brady and his team were feeling the crunch. Do you think hung his head down in the locker room and gave into the feeling of pending doom? Not a chance. There will be many times in your PR and digital marketing career that you will experience being down. You’ll lose out on client pitches, be behind on deliverables or maybe one of your colleagues gets the promotion you were hoping for. How you handle yourself in these moments will be instrumental to your career success. Are you giving into defeat or showing up as your best self? Those who do the latter will reap great rewards.

Practice makes perfect

Brady was not a first round draft pick. In fact he was sixth, but he went on to become the only quarterback to ever win five Super Bowls. He did this by working on his weaknesses and playing up his strengths. Take note, you may not be a natural at picking up the phone and pitching media, but undoubtedly someone on your team will be. Ask them to give you tips and practice. Maybe your vocabulary or writing skills aren’t as sharp as you’d like or you have trouble sharing your true thoughts in meetings. Work at forming the habits that will make you stronger. Let your supervisors and colleagues know where you want more experience and opportunity to learn. Take the initiative and keep improving. It won’t go unnoticed.

Think ahead

When Brady enters the field he has four quarters to play and one goal: to win the game. Knowing your goals and exercising foresight is equally as important in PR and Digital Marketing. Be aware of what your client’s overarching goals are and think about how you are going to achieve them. On a personal level, it’s equally important to know where you want to head in your career and what pathway you can take to get there.

Remember, entering a new field can be overwhelming, but just know others were in the same position and all it takes is the drive to succeed. Brix Media Co. is currently hiring for an account manager and research coordinator. Think you have what it takes? Submit your resume to yourfriends@brixmediaco.com. If we like what we see, we’ll be in touch!

Here’s the weekly news debrief, with things to know from around the world for February 20th

Vancouver:

Travelling from Vancouver to Seattle could take as little as an hour in the future. Washington State is studying how to implement a high-speed train that connects the west coast cities Vancouver, Seattle and Portland. The research will determine if the multi-billion dollar service is even worth constructing and scheduled to be presented no later than December 2017.

Canada:

If you’re an international student, come to Canada! The 2017 QS Best Student City released the top destinations for international students and Montreal ranked first above Paris and London. The top destinations were chosen by affordability, student mix, employer activity and desirability. Vancouver is the only other Canadian city to make the list landing in the 10th spot.

US:

President Trump attended a rally in Melbourne, Florida where he continued his usual ramblings about terrorism abroad. This time, he mentioned the terrorist attack in Sweden, which he used towards his anti-immigration campaign. Sweden among the rest of the world was immediately confused because no such attack existed. Trump later mentioned he received this information from a Fox News report because who needs an intelligence agency when you have cable, right?

International:

The half-brother of North Korea’s supreme leader Kim Jong Un was assassinated in Malaysia earlier last week after a strange turn of events. Kim Jong-nam was walking near a Starbucks when two female assassins approached; one distracted the estranged brother while the other sprayed liquid in his face. The brother passed away shortly after on the way to the hospital. The assailant was arrested and said she was paid to do a hidden camera prank show where they spray unsuspecting people in the face with water but for Kim Jong-nam the liquid was switched with poison.

Tech:

Dubai is planning to release their fleet of self-flying taxis as early as July. These four-legged drones have eight propellers and can seat a passenger weighing up to 220lbs. By entering the destination on a touchscreen the drone will whisk the occupant away at speeds up to 160km per hour. So far, 180 of the Chinese made vehicles have been tested in Dubai’s aerospace.

Science:

Scientists are on the verge or resurrecting the prehistoric Wooly Mammoth within the next seven years. Using the embryo from an Asian elephant as the template, they can modify it with extracted genetic information from the extinct mammal to create an almost exact DNA pattern. The question remains whether reintroducing a prehistoric animal to an ecosystem will be beneficial or detrimental. Meanwhile, we’re all just waiting for Jurassic Park to open.

Entertainment:

Harrison Ford accidentally landed his plane on the wrong runway nearly causing a crash. Harrison realized something was off when he flew over a Boeing 737 on the taxiway. He was recorded on the flight traffic controller’s radio saying, “ Was that airliner supposed to be beneath me?” The Starwars alumni previously crashed a plane into a golf course in 2015; he sustained heavy injuries while having no recollection of how it happened. It’s about time Han Solo let someone else fly the Millennial Falcon.

Here’s the weekly news debrief, with things to know from around the world for February 6th:

Vancouver:

A Vancouver startup is hoping to bring an Uber-like experience to the city while working within the same regulations taxi companies have to follow. Ripe Rides applied for 150 taxi licenses with hopes to launch their second app Ripe Tx that will connect users with taxi’s using the same features as Uber. Even though we can’t have Uber (yet) the disruption of ride services are coming full steam.

Canada:

For all you hopeless romantics looking for love head to Grand Prairie, Alberta! Amazon.ca published its annual list of Canada’s top romantic cities based on the sales of romance novels, movies, relationship books and sexual wellness products. While Victoria, BC grabbed the top spot for the fifth year in a row, Grand Prairie landed as the fourth most romantic city. It’s surprising for such a small town but people clearly want some hot romance for those cold winter nights.

US:

Kellyanne Conway, the key advisor to President Donald Trump, graciously provided some more ‘alternative facts’ when she spoke to MSNBC last week. To justify the controversial travel ban toward Muslim-majority countries, she slammed the media for not covering the Bowling Green Massacre. There is one problem though; there was never a massacre in Bowling Green. She later tweeted that she meant “Bowling Green terrorists” referring to two refugees who were arrested for plotting to send money and weapons back home to Iraqi insurgents. Twitter was quick to point out the latter statement wouldn’t have made sense in her original comment.

International:

Tensions are mounting in Eastern Ukraine after a week of shelling from Russian-backed rebels that claimed the lives of at least 12 Ukrainian soldiers. The town of Avdiivka fell under fire late last weekend and continued until Wednesday, the siege knocked out vital power stations forcing civilians to evacuate the city. The U.N. Security Council expressed their concern over the deterioration of Eastern Ukraine calling for an end to the violence.

Tech:

Selfies are about to be taken to new heights, literally. Airselfie is a phone case with a mini built-in drone that can hover for up to three minutes to take the perfect photo. Forget the selfie stick, this drone comes equipped with an HD camera and is controlled remotely from a smartphone. It was only a matter of time before technology brought us to this point.

Science:

Engineers created “the holy grail of aerial robotics” with Bat Bot! By studying the biology of bats, researchers built a lightweight robotic flier to mimic their unique movement patterns. Bats have more than 40 joints in their wings that allow for precise control over their flight patterns. The Bat Bot has nine of those key joints which allow the robot to cruise, dive and bank turn on a whim.

Entertainment:

It looks like the Beyhive just grew by two. Beyonce announced that she is pregnant with twins and of course Twitter exploded shortly thereafter. Queen Bey posted a maternity photo on Instagram welcoming the new additions to the Carter family, within 45 minutes “twins” became the top trending topic. At this point Beyonce can sneeze and it will make world news.

Here’s the weekly news debrief, with things to know from around the world for January 16th:

Vancouver:

According to a new poll, Mayor Robertson has the lowest approval rating of ten major city mayors across the country. Sitting at only 50%, Robertson also proved to be the most polarizing, with the highest percentage of residents ‘strongly supporting’ and ‘strongly opposing’ him. It’s those bikes lines I tell ya.

Canada:

Our Prime Minister is in some hot water over his vacation plans during New Years. He’s being investigated by the ethics commissioner for potentially violating several conflict of interest statues for accepting flights and trips from the Aga Khan over the holiday. This makes Trudeau the first sitting Prime Minister to ever be investigated by the ethics department.

US:

So the day nearly upon us. On Friday, Donald J. Trump will be officially sworn in as the next President of the United States. Not that anyone will be around to see it; there’s no prominent music acts, no celebrities, and a growing number of absent politicians and senators. Where is everyone? They’ll all be at the Women’s March the next day. Unless you’re a fan of Three Doors Down….they’ll be performing at the inauguration, and then go back to performing at Chuck E. Cheese, where they’ve been the house band since 2002.

International:

As the British Prime Minister gets ready to reveal the plans for Brexit, the British Pound is at the lowest it has ever been in over 30 years. Theresa May will outline exactly how Britain will leave the EU on Tuesday, meanwhile Trump has called Brexit “a great thing” and slammed the EU as a “vehicle for Germany.” The Germans are not amused.

Tech:

Following a two-year investigation, Amazon has been fined $1M for misleading Canadian consumers with false pricing. It all came down to how they allowed sellers to list ‘suggested retail pricing’, which they have since changed. Not that a $1M fine means anything to a company that made $30B last year.

Science:

A group of researchers from Pennsylvania have discovered a way to regenerate skin cells, meaning they can completely eliminate scar tissue. The trick is apparently to encourage hair regrowth first, causing the body to increase fat cells around the wound and eliminating scar tissue.

Entertainment:

After 146 years, the Ringling Brothers are shutting down the Greatest Show on Earth. Declining ticket sales, competition and animal rights complaints have led the company to pull the curtain on the circus. To be fair, I can’t think of anyone that has gone to the circus in 20 years, so they may have a point.

Here’s the weekly news debrief, with things to know from around the world for January 9th:

Vancouver:

For those that may not have heard, BBTV is making a serious push into new global marketplaces with expansions into Singapore, Malaysia, Taiwan, South Korea, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia, UAE and Egypt. Expect to see BBTV grow substantially more in the next few years.

Canada:

Alberta doesn’t seem to be recovering, or at least not nearly as fast as many predicted. Two and a half years in and the oil slump continues to hammer the province, with unemployment at a provincial high. One solution being presented is to ask for the Federal Government to invest in a sustainable fund that would encourage junior exploration and defunct oil rig clean up work.

US:

This is a crucial week for Trump and his nominees, with his cabinet picks undergoing confirmation hearings with questions ranging from civil rights abuse allegations to Russian business ties. Trump will also hold an official press conference this week, the first since July.

International:

North Korea has claimed they have the capability to launch nuclear missiles into the US “at any time.” So far there is no proof, and it appears the N. Koreans are waiting to see what policy changes will come into effect with Trump’s administration.

Tech:

Norway will be the first country to officially kill FM radio. The country is transitioning all radio broadcasts over to digital radio, something some are saying is too soon as it will leave millions of homes and vehicles without the ability to tune in. Plans are in motion for the same to happen in Switzerland, Britain and Denmark.

Science:

The Orca that terrified you in the documentary ‘Blackfish’ has died. Tilikum the killer whale (totally intention pun) died of a bacterial infection last week. Tilikum was 36 years old and responsible for the deaths of three people.

Entertainment:

Last night’s Golden Globes awarded La La Land all seven awards it was nominated for (I mean it’s a movie with Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone dancing and singing, how could that NOT be good?). Meanwhile Meryl Streep took six minutes to destroy Trump, no one does it quite like Meryl.

Here’s a weird story to kick off the new year. Over one billion litres of water have been wasted at a construction site in West Vancouver when an aquifer was breached by an inexperienced drilling team, who then fled the country! It has taken 15 months for repairs to even get to this point, which apparently is incredibly complex, and water is still leaking. So far it’s cost the city nearly $3M.

Canada:

Now’s the time of year to watch out for potential scammers, with Canada Post warning Canadians that mail-forwarding fraud saw a big increase last year. Essentially scammers redirect your mail to new addresses, gathering information from bills and credit card statements. Although, how much mail are you actually getting these days? Scammers would just be getting my Domino’s pizza coupons and real estate junk mail.

US:

We are T-minus 17 days from the Trump Presidential inauguration (yes this is actually happening, you didn’t get to leave that behind in 2016, decisions have consequences so enjoy this one for the next four years). Morgan Stanley is cautioning a volatile stock market in the year ahead with uncertainty in many areas of the economy.

International:

Finland is one of the first countries to launch a universal basic income trial, giving more than 2,000 people a general monthly income of around $600 a month tax-free. UBI is being talked about as a potential globally, with programs in the Netherlands, Uganda and Canada rolling out this year as well.

Tech:

What’s one piece of technology that everyone hates? The printer. With all our complex advancements in tech, the printer has remained relatively unchanged, and hated, for years. Now a new printer has appeared offering inkless printing through the use of infrared beams and could totally revamp printing. You still may have to deal with paper jams though.

Science:

New research into the incubation period of dinosaur eggs may help understand why they went extinct. It is entirely possible that it took up to six months for dino eggs to hatch, putting them at a distinct disadvantage to faster breeding animals.This was a stroke of luck for us, imagine rush hour traffic with brontosaurus’ roaming around? Think about it.

Entertainment:

I honestly can’t think of a better way for 2016 to have ended than with the giant Mariah Carey bomb at Times Square. I really don’t care whose fault it was, watching Mariah crash and burn with style was the physical representation of the year.

Here’s the weekly news debrief, with things to know from around the world for December 19:

Vancouver:

If you’re wondering where that 0.5 per cent tax increase for front line services will be going from the city of Vancouver, just look at the latest drug overdose numbers. By the end of November, BC had recorded 755 deaths due to overdose, a staggering 70 per cent increase over last year. And yes, Fentanyl is largely to blame for this, accounting for 60 per cent of all those case.

Canada:

VW Canada has reached a settlement in the class action lawsuit regarding the massive emissions scandal from late last year. VW will pay out over $2.1 Billion to the over 100,000 Canadians affected, with either vehicle buy-backs or repairs. The scandal has already cost VW over $10 Billion, which is an expensive price tag for a lesson that should have been learned in middle school: don’t cheat on your tests!

US:

Remember the phrase “truth is stranger than fiction” for this next bit. Police barricades around Trump tower are now branded with Tiffany & Co signage. The light blue barricades are just soooo pretty, and bodes well for other luxury brands who will be interested in renting lawn space at the White House. Next year’s Presidential pardoned turkey brought to you by Whole Foods; they have the best, just the best turkey. Look at the size of these turkey legs, they’re yuuuge.

International:

The Russian ambassador to Turkey has been killed in a shooting while attending a photo exhibition. It’s still not known who or why, but Turkey and Russia have been at odds with the handling of Syria.

Tech:

Blackberry has announced a new autonomous vehicle division, which at first glance seems odd from a failing smartphone maker. But, Blackberry’s strongest asset was it’s security, which will be an important factor in maintaining safety in an autonomous future.

Science:

After months of baffling scientists, it’s now believed that a mysterious sound recorded in the depths of the Mariana Trench is a never before recorded Baleen Whale call. It’s still not known what the call means, it could be anything from a unique mating call to a young baleen whale pursuing his career in EDM with the freshest techno beats this side of the Atlantic.

Entertainment:

Zsa Zsa Gabor, actress and famous crossword puzzle answer, has passed away at age 99. Not necessarily known for her roles, Zsa Zsa out lived her two other sisters and was the spitting image of “elite” constantly wearing fur and pearls, marrying EIGHT millionaires and of course calling everyone in her sight “dahhhrlink.”

The rise of fake news is on everyone’s minds ever since the US election. After falsified stories leaked all over social media feeds, there’s concern that it could have swayed the election results. While the fingers are still being pointed, it’s important that you have the right tools in order to separate fact from fiction.

A New Era in Yellow Journalism

The fake news trend isn’t anything new; parallels can be drawn to the days of yellow journalism when print publications opted in for flashy headlines, lavish pictures and exaggerated content in favor of well-researched columns. While sensationalized media is widely vilified by journalists, the question of ethics in media keeps resurfacing as the flow of fabricated stories continues to become an issue.

In this new age of yellow journalism, the media landscape shifted from the morning newspaper to instantaneous social media posts where the majority gets their news. Bloggers aren’t held to the same standard that journalists are but they are often the first point of contact for many seeking breaking news. Without the expectation to have journalistic integrity bloggers are free to publish any biased or under researched media that will escalate on social network platforms.

So, how do you separate truth from fiction?

The short answer: dig much deeper.

Even Wikipedia isn’t foolproof; it’s an open source encyclopedia that can be edited by anyone. Use due diligence and follow these helpful tips to navigate the fake news minefield.

Check The Domain Name

The first step in determining a fake news story is as simple as checking the link of where the article is from. There are more than a handful of faux websites out for your clicks. They can be blatantly obvious such as unconfirmedsources.com but they can also have less discerning names such as civictribune.com.

Always refer to reputable publications to see if that story has run. Globe & Mail, Wall Street Journal and Forbes are examples of credible news sources you can confide in. Don’t be fooled, however, there are some fake news sites that highjack popular outlets and slightly change the name.

MSNBC.com is a trusted news source, yet MSNBC.co has been flagged as a fake news site. That slight difference is easy to miss at a quick glance, which is exactly what they set out to achieve.

Use Fact Checking Websites

Luckily, there are websites who showed initiative and created resources to use when a questionable political story surfaces. The first one can be found at factcheck.org. Any reported articles will end up here, there’s even a section to ask a question regarding a story and they will post the answer. The second source measures the accuracy of a post with a Truth-O-Meter that will tell you the extent of how true a story is. At politifact.com there’s a database of debunked political articles and the Obameter, which is a tally of the promises he kept or broke. Politifact won the Pulitzer Prize for its contribution in the battle against misinformation.

Google Has a Reverse Image Search

Sometimes a story will emerge followed by a photo that gives claim to the information. That doesn’t mean it’s true. Photoshop is an incredibly powerful tool for those who know how to use it. Many photos have been altered to suit a narrative then pushed out into social media where it gets shared and lost in the static.

The solution here is simple. These three simple steps will allow you to verify the credibility of a photo in question:

Screenshot the photo

Open Google Images in your browser

Drag the screenshot into the search field

Google will perform a reverse image search and present the URL’s associated with the picture. From here you can see where the image came from and if it originates from a reputable source.

Download The “FiB” Chrome Browser Extension

When a team of four bright students came together at HackPrinceton, they set out to create an algorithm to combat fake news. Not only did they successfully create the Google Chrome extension called “FiB” but also it only took 36 hours to complete it.

But how does it work?

FiB has a two-pronged approach; first it scans through your Facebook feed and checks status updates, photos and links, and then follows with a Twitter search. Based off the information it assesses whether the content was fabricated or not.

Second, for anyone posting news it does the same verification process but will notify before posting if it’s “Verified” or “Not Verified”. The user can then decide if they want to continue the post.

If there’s one take away from all this, it’s that you need to be objective about everything you read online. The US election set a dangerous precedent setting up a post-truth era but the silver lining here is you have the power to end it by questioning and sharing correct information.